Suspending driver's licences could reduce accidents and premiums

Government efforts to clamp down on dangerous driving by suspending the licences of those motorists who excessively break speeding limits is a necessary step in bringing down the sheer volume of fatal accidents on South Africa’s roads each year and could ultimately end up lowering premiums for drivers.

This is according to Leigh Friend, Gauteng Regional Manager of MUA Insurance Acceptances, who says a drop in the number of accidents should see fewer insurance claims, thereby improving the risk profile of motorists in South Africa. “There are many factors that are taken into account when calculating the premium on a motor vehicle, however, if we see fewer accidents on our roads then it is highly probable that we could see a reduction in motor insurance premiums in the future.”

The Department of Transport said changes to road traffic legislation - due to come into effect in February 2011 - include automatic suspension of driving licences for anyone who is convicted of driving more than 30km/h over the speed limit in urban areas and more than 40km/h over the speed limit outside urban areas.

The act also states that all minibus and midibus vehicles transporting paying passengers must be fitted with a directional stability control device - an expensive piece of hi-tech equipment that minimises the risk of losing control of the vehicle when braking suddenly. “This is a very welcome development as a high volume of accidents do involve minibus vehicles. By minimizing the potential for loss of control we hope that this will reduce the number of accidents.”

Statistics released by the Road Traffic Management Corporation for 2009, show there was a marginal increase in the number of fatal accidents on the roads last year by 52 to a total of 10 857, equivalent to 30 fatal road accidents every day.

“Thirty fatal road accidents every day is an alarmingly high number and this is in addition to the thousands of non-fatal road accidents, so any efforts that can bring these figures down should be welcomed from both a safety and insurance perspective,” says Friend.

The amendments to the National Road Traffic Act will also see an end to the current arrangement whereby motorists who obtain a driving licence for a heavy motor vehicle can automatically qualify to drive a light motor vehicle on the same licence.

Friend says all of the proposed changes are part of a greater and ongoing effort by the government to clamp down on road traffic offences, including the introduction of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) and a greater police presence on the roads to catch drunk drivers.

“AARTO, the points demerit system being introduced next year, will penalize drivers by putting points on their licence and for repeat offenders it may also lead to the suspension or cancellation of their licence. This will simply put South Africa in line with international legislation. Most countries such as the US and UK already operate similar models with great effect.”

Friend says that while it may take South Africans time to get used to these changes they are ultimately a positive step in combating what is a very serious problem. “We have a very cavalier attitude in South Africa to road safety so we hope that new legislation such as this will finally help to bring home the message that we need to take more care on our roads.”